Common Causes of Bent Garage Doors
Today we’re going to focus on a common but rarely discussed issue with overhead garage doors: bending and warping. As a reputable garage door company in Parker, Broomfield, and adjacent areas, we only sell high-quality doors made from the best available materials, and each garage door installation we perform is completed to the highest standards possible. Because of this, our customers tend to have far fewer issues with bent or warped doors but, as you will discover, there are some factors outside of our control that can cause even the most well-made garage doors to warp or bend. For this reason, and for all of those people who were less fortunate in their choice of garage door supplier, we decided to write this in-depth guide, to make it easier to diagnose and address the root causes of bending and warping in overhead garage doors. We hope you enjoy today’s blog post and find it useful.
Easily Avoidable Reasons Your Garage Door Might Bend
We are going to start our guide by discussing those factors over which you have some control: forewarned is forearmed as they say!
Poor Quality Construction or Materials
Low-quality garage doors that are manufactured with cheap alloys are more prone to bending than their pricier counterparts. While you may get lucky and have no problems with a cheap overhead door, we always recommend spending a little more on a new garage door installation in Parker or elsewhere, as it could save you a lot of time, trouble, and money in the future.
Incorrectly Installed Garage Door Arm
If the arm that connects your door to the opener is not installed correctly, it may cause the door to warp through the uneven application of force when operating the door.
Insufficient Lubrication
Proper lubrication will not only reduce unnecessary wear and tear on door opener components, but it may also help to protect the door itself from bending. When everything is running smoothly, a balanced amount of force will be applied to your door every time it is opened or closed.
Storing Heavy Items on Door
Many people affix plastic hooks to the inside of their garage doors, to provide extra storage space. Whilst this is not normally a problem in itself, it can cause the door to warp or flex if you hang unusually heavy items on the hooks.
Inadequate Maintenance
By performing regular visual inspections of your garage door and door opener, you can attend to loose bolts and replace worn components in a more timely manner, thereby reducing the chance of your door becoming warped or bent.
Sloppy Installation
If your garage door installation is not performed properly, by experienced professionals, there are a number of ways this could lead to your door becoming warped in the future.
With a little planning and research, you should be able to avoid most, if not all, of the above issues. However, there are some issues that cannot always be avoided, no matter how well you do your homework before investing in a new garage door or how conscientiously you maintain it over the years.
Unavoidable Reasons That Your Garage Door Might Bend
Although you may be able to minimize the chances of some of the following factors warping your garage door, in the experience of our Parker and Broomfield garage door repair teams it’s simply not possible to eliminate them all completely.
Collisions
With the best will in the world, we sometimes still have accidents in our automobiles, including collisions with overhead garage doors. If this should happen to you, there is a very good chance it will result in a bent or warped door.
Temperature Extremes
Even doors that are manufactured from high-quality materials may bend or warp in extreme temperatures. Other weather conditions, such as very heavy rainfall or unusually high humidity may also have an effect on the shape and form of your garage door, especially if it is made from wood.
Worn Springs
Unevenly worn torsion or extension springs can cause garage doors to bend, as more force is exerted on one side than the other by the opener.
Shifting Foundation
If the concrete slab on which your garage is built should shift over time, this can cause a number of issues that may lead to a bent or warped door.
Vibrations
The quietest and smoothest-operating of door openers will still produce some vibrations that travel through your garage door when you open and close it. Over time, these vibrations may cause a certain degree of warping.
Today’s maintenance tips come from our team in Parker and will help you not only to minimize the chances of your door becoming bent or warped but to extend its service life too.
Regular Inspections
As mentioned earlier, you can ward off a lot of potential issues simply by taking a few minutes out of your day to inspect your garage door and opener. Do this once every month or so and you will be able to rectify any faults you spot before they have the chance to cause any real damage to your door.
Lubrication
Lubricate hinges, tracks, rollers, and bearings with appropriate lubricants on a regular basis. Clean each part first if necessary.
Tighten Loose Screws, Nuts, and Bolts
If you come across any loose parts during your inspections, tighten them up to make sure that your garage door and opener continue to function as intended.
Keep the Outside of Your Door Clean
Whether you have a metal or wooden garage door installation, you can extend its useful lifespan by cleaning it every now and then. If it is a wooden door, you should also seal any gaps, cracks, or cavities that you come across during your visual inspections, to prevent further deterioration.
If you need any more advice on how to keep your garage door in good condition, and to prevent it from warping, please don’t hesitate to contact us. The experienced garage door service technicians at A Better Garage Door are always here, ready to help.